Well its bin almost a week now and finally my dad is getting the internetz fixed. Bout freakin time too. Anyways, here's the new chapter I promised. Hope yall like it as I put a lot of effort into this one. Enjoy!
Also, happy Passover to everyone :) I own neither a mermaid nor an avatar...
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Chapter 7: Storm at sea
When Katara had reached the surface, she was amazed at what she saw. Floating on the water under the pale moonlight was a large black ship, the likes of which was much different than the sunken ones she explored back home.
As she looked at it, Sokka and Toph surfaced above the water. "Katara, what are looking at-" Sokka's mouth fell open as his eyes fell upon the ship which he noticed bore a fire nation symbol. "Oh no...This is not good!"
"What? What is it Sokka?" Toph asked.
Suddenly, Katara bolted past Sokka and toward the ship. "Katara! KATARA! Wait! Come back!" Sokka called desperately as his sister swam closer and closer.
As she reached the hull, Katara heard laughter and the loud playing of music. To get a better look, she used her water bending to propel herself up the side of the ship and onto a ledge just under the railing. Hoisting herself up, she glanced through a space under the rail and looked around in awe. On board were men clad in red clothing and armor, much different than that of the water tribe soldiers. However, they didn't look like they were ready for battle. Instead they were dancing around with each other, singing merrily, drinking from pints and laughing out loud. Leading the group was an old man with a grey beard who played what looked to be a giant gold snarfblack, which seemed to have wrapped itself around his body.
As Katara continued to watch, she heard a loud chirping noise and turned to see Momo flying behind her "Momo! What are you doing here?" she whispered as the lemur continued to fly about. Suddenly, Momo stuck his nose in the air and flew toward the men "No wait!" Katara tried to grab Momo but he was too fast. She watched as he flew onto the ship and towards a plate of food one of the sailors left on the ledge. Momo took an apple and quickly started munching on it.
"Hey! Shoo! Away from there you flying rodent!" shouted one of the sailors as he went to bat the lemur away with his hand. Momo quickly jumped up, apple still in his claws, and flew toward the other side of the ship.
However, having not watched where he was going, Momo flew into one of the sailors causing him to fall over. "Hey watch where you're going!" yelled the man as got up and turned around to face Momo.
Katara gasped upon seeing the man face. He had a large scar that seemed to cover the entire left half of his face, making him look almost demonic.
"Who did that!?" he yelled as he looked down and spotted the lemur. Fear washed over Katara as the man knelt down to face Momo, who wanted to get his apple back but was too scared to move. Katara held her breathe as the man picked up Momo then noticed the half eaten apple near his boot. He bent over and dusted it off "You must've been hungry. Here." Handing it to him, Momo quickly devoured the rest of the apple and licked the man's cheek before flying back out to sea.
The man smiled and wiped his cheek. Katara smiled too and sighed in relief. Suddenly the man didn't seem so scary anymore. His kindness toward Momo seemed to bring out a special kind of beauty in him she didn't notice at first. Katara continued to watch as the man leaned casually against the rail, watching the rest of the men dance about. Despite his scar, the man was actually quite hansom. In fact, he was really hansom. His red robes clung to his muscular form and his long dark hair slightly covered his face, giving him a sense of mystery and rebellion. Katara wasn't sure why, but the more she stared at the man, the more infatuated she became. If only she could get close enough to see his eyes...
"HEY KATARA!" Katara turned to face Aang, who was hovering close to the ship. "Quite a party eh!? Have you seen Momo!?"
"Aang be quiet! They'll hear you!" Katara whispered fiercely.
"Oh I gotcha" Aang said, lowering his voice and landing besides Katara."We're being incognitus, spying on enemy territory, infiltrating the military, braving the unknown-Mmp!" Katara covered Aangs mouth and looked back at the sailors who seem to have not heard a thing.
"This is so exciting Aang. I've never been this close to fire benders before." she said excitedly as she glanced back at the man and sighed. "He's very handsome isn't he?" Aang removed her hand from his mouth and looked over her shoulder. "I don't know, he seems kinda old and a little fat to me."
Katara noticed him looking at the old man with the horn and laughed. "No not that one! That one over there." she pointed toward the dark haired man who had taken out a spy glass and was looking on the horizon.
"Oh him...He doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I mean, look at all that messy hair, those sturdy legs, and those broad shoulders...not to mention that nasty scar. Looks like every other fire benders I've encountered. They're a dime a dozen..." as Aang continued babbling, Katara continued staring. Aang did have a point. His legs were rather sturdy...
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On deck, Zuko glanced through his spy glass over the dark ocean. It had been some time since they stopped following the mysterious voice. After scouring the entire shoreline, the trail had run cold. Iroh had suggested that since they were spending extra time at sea, they might as well enjoy it and have a party. Excited by this notion, the crew had the cook whip up some food and break out the rum. Some of the crew even found instruments stowed away below decks. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves, even Iroh who had finally gotten over his seasickness. Zuko was the only one who refused to join in the festivities. He had continued looking at the sea, straining his ears for the voice but to no avail. At one point, he wondered if he could have imagined it.
"Still on the lookout nephew?" Iroh asked appearing behind Zuko.
"Just watching the ocean Uncle...the waves seem to be getting a bit choppy..." he said watching them till Iroh pulled the spy glass down.
"I have something for you" he said pulling out a small box. "I wanted to wait till your birthday but I figured now is as good a time as any." He handed it to Zuko who put away the spy glass and slowly unwrapped the gift. Inside the box, wrapped in silk, was a magnificent golden headpiece adorn with small red jewels that shone in the light.
"It's beautiful Uncle, but what is it?" Zuko asked.
"That is an antique fire nation crown, passed down through our family for generations and worn by the crown prince. I thought you might like it for your antique collection." Iroh smiled.
"Thank you Uncle. It's wonderful..." Zuko said halfheartedly closing the box and placing it on a table. As he walked toward the side of the ship, Katara and Aang quickly ducked down and pressed themselves against the side of the hull so they wouldn't be seen.
Iroh walked up next to Zuko, who was leaning forward on the rail looking sadly out to sea. "You know Prince Zuko, I can understand why you would be reluctant to take up the throne. After everything your father put you these last few years, I wouldn't have been surprised if you had tried to sprout fins and go live out in the ocean." This comment made Zuko smile as it didn't seem like a bad idea. "But you should know that I am not trying to force this on you because of your father..." Iroh glanced at Zuko, who was subconsciously touching his scar, and sighed deeply.
"I had sworn an oath to your dear mother before she passed, that I would keep you safe, happy and well provided for. And I believe the best way to do that is by helping you to find a bride and become the Fire Lord I know your capable of being"
Zuko sighed and looked at his Uncle. "It's not that I'm totally against the idea of becoming Fire Lord. I had always looked forward to it as a kid...but after everything that's happened, I just don't like the idea of being cooped up and tied down by royal duties for the rest of my life like I was for the past couple months. I want to explore, go on adventures. I don't want to live on display in a fish bowl, I want the entire ocean to swim in!" Katara smiled at the irony. He longed for life on the sea as much as she longed for life on the land.
Iroh put a hand on his nephews shoulder "And you will have your freedom to do as you please once you are crowned Prince Zuko. And maybe when a certain young lady enters the picture..."
"Oh Uncle don't start with that again." Zuko said hoisting himself onto the ledge, his leg swinging casually over the side just over Aangs head. "I told you I'm not interested in any of those fire nation 'princess' types. Have you ever tried taking one sailing? It's a joke. All they do is complain about their hair and make-up getting messed up and their dresses get caught in the rigging. That's not the kind of person I want to spend my life with." Iroh tried thinking of a girl in the fire nation who didn't fit that description but was having a hard time coming up with someone.
"I'm sorry you feel that way Zuko, but really who else is there to choose from? You're going to need a bride once you take up the crown. Plus it would be nice for me, before my time comes, to see you happily settled down with the right girl...and maybe a few little ones." he added coyly.
Pretending he didn't hear the last part, Zuko stared longingly at the ocean and smiled. "Don't worry Uncle, when I decide to take on a bride I'll make sure she's the right one. I want the girl I marry to be vivacious and wild...like the sea."
Katara blushed deeply at the prince while Iroh chuckled "Sounds like quite a catch my nephew. I hope you're prepared to search far and wide for a girl like that."
"Trust me Uncle, she's out there somewhere and when I find the girl of my dreams I'll know. It'll hit me, like lightning..."
Suddenly, the wind picked up and dark clouds moved in, covering the moon and stars. Lightning started striking the water and the waves slapped hard against the ship. "HURRICANE A COMIN!" yelled the crow's nest.
"Hoist the main sails! Man the hatches! Let's go men MOVE IT!" shouted the helmsmen as the crew scrambled to their posts. Zuko and Iroh quickly joined the crew in hoisting the anchors as the rain started beating down on them.
As the wind picked up speed, Katara and Aang clung to the side of the ship, finding it harder and harder to hold on. "The winds all of sudden on the move here!" yelled Aang as his fingers were starting to pry loose.
"Careful Aang! Watch out!" Katara yelled as she tried to grab his hand. However the wind was too strong and Katara clung back to the ship as Aangs lost his grip, sending him flying through the air.
"KATARA!" he yelled as he disappeared into the dark sky. Sokka and Toph heard Aang yell and tried to swim toward the ship but were soon engulfed by a large wave.
On board, the crew was having a hard time trying to keep the ship steady. The violent rains and strong winds pummeled the ship, soaking the crew in ocean and rain water and causing them to fall over themselves. Even the helmsman was knocked off the wheel by the violent storm.
As the ship lurched forward, Katara lost her grip and was hurled back in the ocean. She quickly resurfaced and followed the ship, dodging in and out among the waves.
Huge flashes of lightning appeared in the sky. One bolt was about to strike down upon some of the crew members when Iroh jumped in the way of the lightning and absorbed its force. Then, using a special fire bending move he developed, redirected the lightning out of his fingertips and back to the sky. Zuko meanwhile had tried to regain control of the ship by jumping on the wheel, but the tide proved too strong. Even worse, one of the lightning bolts had struck the mast and set the sails on fire.
As everyone ran around in a mass panic, the waves lifted the boat and threw it toward a gathering of rock pillars."LOOK OUT!" yelled Iroh as the ship violently collided into a wall of sharp rocks, causing it to lurch over and hurl everyone on board into the rough waters. They struggled to stay afloat but luckily a life boat had been knocked loose as well and all the men were able to get into it safely.
As Zuko helped the last of the crew members into the boat, he heard a scream coming from the ship. One of the men took out his spyglass and gasped at what he saw. "General Iroh is still onboard! He seems to be trapped under the debris!"
"UNCLE!" shouted Zuko who dove straight into the water and resurfaced near the ship. Grabbing a loose rope, he climbed up the side and onto the deck. After a quick look around, he spotted Iroh trapped underneath one the mast which had caught on fire. Lifting it off him, Zuko hoisted his Uncle up and pulled him through the flaming wreckage. Iroh coughed and sputtered from the smoke but managed to yell when he saw the crow's nest, which had snapped in two, about to land on them. Quickly, Zuko pushed his Uncle over the side and into the ocean, getting his foot stuck under the mast in the process. As he tried to pry himself loose, one of the blasting jelly barrels were knocked loose from the storage case and started rolling toward Zuko. He then launched a fire ball at it causing it to explode just mere feet away.
"ZUKO!!" yelled Iroh as he was helped into the boat by the crew who watched in horror. Fearing the worst, Katara dove head on into the flaming wreckage and started searching desperately for the prince. She wasn't sure if he was in the water or still on the ship but she was determined to find him. As Katara turned her head, she was relieved to finally spot the prince draped over a piece of wood. However, since the force of the blast had knocked him unconscious, Zuko slid off the wood and disappeared beneath the waves. Quickly Katara dove under water as the prince began to sink and, wrapping her arms under his, pulled him back up to the surface.
Keeping his head above water and carefully maneuvering among the flaming debris, Katara pulled the prince away from the wreckage and towards the nearest area of land while his ship slowly sank below the waves.
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Be on the lookout, next chapter coming soon!